Ancestral Futurism

The one week Peruvian extravaganza that was Futurismo Ancestral by Sixe Paredes at Somerset House proved an enormously popular draw for bank holiday crowds absorbing some vibrant colour over the grey weekend in May.

The one week Peruvian extravaganza that was Futurismo Ancestral by Sixe Paredes at Somerset House proved an enormously popular draw for bank holiday crowds absorbing some vibrant colour over the grey weekend in May.

The trail of offerings and totems in the form of sculpture, woven textiles, ceramics and quipus led viewers on an enticing journey from the bright entrance space lined with double sided tapestries, into the depths of the underground Deadhouse. With a colourful monolithic archway at the entrance and plinths in step formation leading up to suspended textiles, the layout of the show was evocative of the artist’s own path towards his becoming enamoured with all things Andean. This feeling was inspirationally communicated by allowing the artist complete control of the exhibition space and we look forward to seeing further shows of this kind by new art production company Approved by Pablo.

The textile Ídolos were elevated to ritualistic objects paying homage to the traditions they were inspired by, and in the inner depths of the twisting gallery a video Ofreda Celeste referenced the site-specific totems that Sixe Paredes constructed in the Nasca desert with Peruvian artist, Valentino Sibadon as part of a ‘celestial game’.

For more on the textiles in the exhibition, see the COVER preview.

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Photography by Rafael Suñén and Pierre-Laurent Cassiere.